Researchers interested in doing genealogical research in our collections should start by Contacting Us. Our staff can help direct you to the best collections and published material for your research.
Genealogy researchers can approach our collections from a variety of angles. Any collection has the possibility of containing genealogical information useful to someone. Political collections such as the papers of William Henry Seward, Thomas Dewey, and Mary Anne Krupsak contain correspondence from constituents and staff. Suffrage and abolition-related collections like Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, and Isaac and Amy Post contain correspondence to, from, and about Rochester families.
Local churches and business company collections, both manuscript and published, may have material relevant to genealogists. Our individual manuscript volumes hold diaries and journals by individuals who left very little other written historical record.
RBSCP also holds archival records for several 19th and 20th-century charitable institutions which provided care for children in the Rochester, NY area (listed below). There are gaps in the admissions entries and these should not be considered a complete and exhaustive record.
Hillside Children’s Center papers (1837-2001)
The Jewish Children's Home papers (1914-1949)
Northaven, Inc. papers (1895-1976)
Rochester Friendly Home papers (1849-1943)
The Monroe County Library Genealogy site lists additional genealogy resources and for further information about genealogical research in Rochester and Monroe County, you may wish to contact the Monroe County Library genealogist specialist.
